Keyed zither.



P. SCHMIDT.

KEYED ZITHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1912.

1,047,307, Patented Dec. 17,1912.

FELIX SCHMIDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

KEYED ZITHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7 1912.

Application filed January 22, 1912. Serial No. 672,708.

To all whom "It may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX SOHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful improvement in Keyed Zithers, of which the following is a complete specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved playing device for stringed instruments of that type adapted to rest upon a horizontal support while being operated; to provide a device by means of which the strings of a musical instrument may be struck without direct contact with the fingers; to provide a device adapted to protect the fingers of the operator; andto provide a cheap, simple and durabledevice adapted to enable the operator to strlke the proper strings of an instrument with the use of less skill than is required to strike the strings directly with the fingers.

A specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stringed instrument with one of the playing devices embodied in the invention mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the playing device. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the device. Fig. t is a fragmentary top plan view of the device with the top plate removed.

In the construction shown, the stringed instrument 1 is adapted to lie upon a table or other suitable support, and mounted on the sounding board 2 thereof above the chord or lower toned strings 3 is the play ing device a. Said playing device comprises a frame having two end pieces 5 which have their ends provided on the under side with pads 6 adapted to prevent marring the sounding board and to cause sufiicient frictional engagement on the sounding board to hold the device in position. Extending longitudinally of the device are the bars 7 which are supported above the strings 4L and spaced a distance apart, and a plate 8 having slots 9 therein above the slots or spacesabove said bars is secured over the structure thus formed.

Pivoted on pins 10 which are secured in the bars 7 and extend across the spaces therebetween are the striking levers or hammers 11, the upper ends of which extend upwardly through the slots 9 into position to be engaged by the fingers of the operator. On

the lower ends of said hammers are pads 12 of felt or other suitable material adapted to strike the strings 4. Each hammer 11 is provided with a coiled spring 13 which is connected at one end to a pin 14 on the bar 7, and at its other end is connected to the lever at a point 15, which, when the key is in normal position, is in alinement with the pins 10 and 14. Said springs act nornally to hold the hammers out of contact with the wires 4:. On each pin 10, at the side of the hammer to which the spring is attached, is a brake sleeve 16 of rubber or other suitable material which acts to hold the hammer at the opposite side of the space between the bars 7 so that the spring pulls diagonally across said-space'and tends to bind the hammer against the sleeve which there by affords a brake to prevent vibration of the hammer.

The operation of the construction shown is as follows: When the device is placed above the strings 4 of the instrument the lower ends of the hammers 11 are immediately above but out of contact with said strings. When it is desired to strike certain of the string the upper end of the proper hammer is thrown over to the right, as shown in dotted lines with respect to the right hand hammer in Fig. 2, thereby raising the lower end of the hammer above the strings and causing tension on the spring 13. When the lever is released the spring forces the lower end of the hammer against the strings and immediately returns the hammer to normal position. The brake sleeve 16 prevents further vibration of the hammer so that the latter will strike the strings but once each time it is operated. By operating the hammers in proper succession the proper chords may be played with much less difliculty than when the strings are struck directly with the fingers. The remainder of the strings of the instrument are played by the other hand of the operator.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many details of the construction shown may be varied or omitted without departing from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A. playing device for stringed instru ments, comprising a frame adapted to rest on the sounding board of the instrument, a plurality of hammers pivoted in the frame above the strings of the instrument, springs connected to the frame and to the hammers adapted to normally hold the hammers out of contact with the strings, and means adapted to prevent vibration of the hammers.

2. A playing device for stringed instruments, comprising a frame having longitudinal slots therein, a plurality of hammers pivoted in each slot at one side thereof brake sleeves on the pivots for the hammers, and springs connected to the hammers and to the frame acting normally to hold the hammers against said sleeves.

3. A playing device for stringed instruments, comprising a frame having longitudinal slots therein and adapted to rest on the sounding board of the instrument, pivot pins extending across said slots, hammers pivoted on said pins above the strings and projecting above the frame, brake sleeves on the pins, and springs connected with frame and hammers adapted to hold the hammers against the sleeves.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

FELIX SCHMIDT.

Witnesses JOSEPH SOI-ILENKER, CARL BUEHLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

